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Fantasy Football Third Quarter Under Review

We are now entering Week 13 of NFL action, and that means the fantasy football playoffs are right around the corner! The past four weeks have provided us with Cam Newton being the #1 QB thanks to 12 touchdowns (3 rushing). Adrian Peterson reminded us why he is the best RB in the NFL, rushing for 531 yards and five touchdowns in the Vikings four games, Antonio Brown and Doug Baldwin were two of the top WRs, including a BYE week and Tyler Eifert scored six touchdowns, making him the top TE to own in the third quarter of the fantasy football season.

Quarterbacks

Newton has led the Carolina Panthers to an impressive 11-0 start, and are now the only undefeated team in the NFL. Cam took advantage of five passing touchdown in Week 11 before failing to throw for one on Thanksgiving, but he did manage to score a rushing TD. It was the fifth time this season he failed to score 20+ points in our 20 Team Fantasy Football League.

Aaron Rodgers was the only other QB to tally 100+ fantasy points in the third quarter. His run started against Newton, when he threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns against the Panthers in Week 9. He followed that up with back to back two touchdown games before struggling on Thanksgiving. The Bears held Rodgers to his third lowest fantasy points total this season. Green Bay have now lost four of their last five games.

Brady's 95 completions is third in the league behind Rodgers and Blake Bortles. Carr and Ryan Tannehill are the only other QBs with 90+ completions since Week 9.

Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for 1169 passing yards in the third quarter, good for second, behind Brady who has 1190. Only difference in that Roethlisberger only played three games with a Week 11 BYE.

Running Backs

Of the five RBs that started fantasy football drafts, Adrian Peterson is the only one left standing. Eddie Lacy is on a comeback tour, Jamaal Charles and Le'Veon Bell are sidelined with injuries and Marshawn Lynch just has sports hernia surgery and the Seahawks are RAWLing! I hope you choose wisely!

The Vikings are feeding AP the ball and his 97 carries leads the league over the last four weeks. Jonathan Stewart and the one and only Darren McFadden are the only RBs with 90+ carries.

McCoy has quietly has a nice second half to the NFL season, with four straight games of 70+ rushing yards. His 376 yards gained on the ground is good for third in the NFL behind AP and Doug Martin over the last four weeks. Add McCoy's 126 receiving yards and his 502 total yards is only bested by Peterson.

Wide Receivers

Antonio Browns was unbelievable in Weeks 9 & 10, catching 27 passes for 423 yards before the Steelers BYE week. Then on Sunday Night Football, Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson put on a show, combining for 69 points, 801 passing yards and 57 completions! Brown was limited to six catches for 51 yards and no touchdown. Still, Brown has been the top receiver over the last four weeks. He has been worth a first round draft pick, despite that three game stretch of under 5/50 without Big Ben. Those of you who held onto/acquired him will reap all the benefits in the fantasy playoffs!

Brandon Marshall has only gained 245 yards on 21 receptions in the Jets last four contests, but has caught five touchdowns. Eric Decker has also caught 21 passes and added three touchdowns.

Oddly enough, four of the top six receivers in the third quarter of fantasy football play in the AFC East and none for the New England Patriots. Marshall is 2nd, Jarvis Landry 4th, Sammy Watkins 5th and Decker is 6th. Brown tops the list and Doug Baldwin is squeezed in the 3rd slot.

Landry is coming off a ridiculous 13 catch (16 targets) 165 yard game against the Jets, and leads all receivers with 35 receptions since Week 9.

Watkins has two 150+ yard games and has added three touchdowns for the Bills. He has totaled just 200 receiving yards in his five other games played.

Tight Ends

Tyler Eifert might only catch three passes a game, but he catches touchdowns. Six of his last 14 receptions have resulted in six points. All those points on just 141 receiving yards.

Delanie Walker has been the complete opposite player Eifert has, with 347 yards on 24 receptions, both TE bests, but just two scores.

Martellus Bennett owners must be furious with Zach Miller's success. Miller's four touchdowns in the Bears last four games gives him one more on the season than the TE with an ADP of 59 on Yahoo.

Rob Gronkowski is expected to miss at least one game, and with the Patriots undefeated streak being snapped by Brock Osweiler and C.J. Anderson, I would expect New England will give Gronk all the time he needs to comeback 100%.